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| - Cruising through neatly-manicured, tree-lined streets, past stunning multi-million dollar homes and picture perfect families, we made our way to Stratosphere, a casual dining Gastropub & Winebar located in Etobicoke's Bloor West Village. Parking is aplenty, and for those that prefer not to drive, the restaurant has the added convenience of being situated next to a TTC subway station.
The outside makes no grand statements. But as we enter, I'm almost taken back to a prohibition-era speakeasy. The background jazz music, dark furnishings, and skyline mural definitely helps my daylight reverie.
With an opportunity to sample a few of the appetizers, we got to taste a wide range of textures and flavours. The fish tacos packed a good punch (despite the hard taco shell which could make for a crumbly eat); the Mediterranean-styled olive tapenade served with focaccia was a savoury bite; and the Guinness beer-battered prawns were surprisingly light and crunchy.
But it was the sliders that took home the big win. Made with a delectable combination of beef, lamb and striploin, these mini burgers hit all the right spots - tasty, succulent and juicy. The triumph of four very good appetizers set expectations pretty high for the main course that followed. If Stratosphere's mini sliders were anything to go by, the big daddy version held a lot of promise. The Strip Loin Burger was a big, juicy hand-pressed patty, served with crispy fried onions, mushrooms, and 3 sauces on a bed of sweet potato fries.
When it comes to cocktails, Stratosphere does shine bright - among its lovely libations was a Bloody Ceasar that was right on the mark, and a smooth chocolate martini that would have had me going back for more had it not been a school night.
Overall, Stratosphere has the potential of being a great local for the Royal York residents. Come for the cocktails, stay for those appetizers. And make sure to check out the backyard patio and some of the weekday specials: Buck-a-Shuck oysters every Saturday, and the Bring Your Own Wine no-corkage every Wednesday.
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